The number 18 is a significant number in Judaism. Each Hebrew letter has a numerical value. The letters that are used to make the number 18 spell the word chai, which means, “life.” In Judaism, we recognize the blessing of life and so the number 18 or multiples of 18 are important milestones.
Crane Lake Camp has been a part of my life in various ways for a very long time. In fact I first came to Crane Lake Camp when I was 15 years old, the summer before my sophomore year in high school. My family was changing camps after my brother had been injured at our previous camp, and they had chosen Crane Lake because we had family friends who were already here. I had just finished my first year in NFTY (WeFTY) and had many friends who were at Eisner Camp, but my parents felt strongly about keeping my brothers and me together at one camp. As a teenager entering a camp for the first time, I found Crane Lake to be a warm, supportive, fun and memorable community. I spent 5 summers as a camper, CIT and staff member. My brothers continued to attend camp after I left. In fact, my brother spent 25 summers as a camper and staff member. Following college, I began to work as a full time youth director at a synagogue on Long Island and had the opportunity to work as a unit head at Eisner Camp. It was there that I met my husband, who was also committed to Jewish life and had grown up at Eisner. The decision about where our yet-to-even exist children would go to summer camp was one that seemed to always be in the background somewhere. We married in the fall of 1997, 18 years ago, and it was soon after that we heard that the URJ (formerly known as the UAHC) was purchasing Crane Lake Camp. I called my husband at work and said, “Problem solved! Our kids, (who did not even exist yet) can go to Crane Lake!” Through the years we have watched the evolution of Crane Lake Camp into a part of the Reform movement camping system. I started working as an Education Director at a Long Island synagogue and had the opportunity to serve on the faculty of URJ Crane Lake Camp for one week in 2001. With my 1 ½ year old son in tow, I walked up to the rec hall to show him my color war plaque. I helped to plan and facilitate Jewish education on the main lawn, where I had songled Friday night reflections as a staff member. My room for the week was in the infirmary I had visited as a camper. We sang the Havdalah blessings on the hill where I had stargazed as a teen.
Six years and 2 more kids later, I returned to be on faculty for the first two weeks of the summer, and I have never left. URJ Crane Lake Camp has become an integral part of my family’s life. I spent 4 summers on faculty and now 5 summers as the Machon Director. My oldest son is now in Olim this summer, the same age I was when I first entered those red gates. My youngest son has spent every birthday at camp, (9 so far) and will proudly share his cake with his bunkmates this July 1. 
My middle son loves to wear his 5 year sweatshirt he got last summer, and did the crazy camp b’nai mitzvah circuit this past year. We all count down the days until we enter those red gates and talk about songs on the radio that would make great fight songs for our units. We talk about the Israeli counselors we want to see when we visit Israel as a family, and we sing “Shine” at our Shabbat dinner table.
I feel truly blessed that URJ Crane Lake Camp is a part of my family’s life. When we arrive here at camp, we are coming home.
As we celebrate this 18th summer of URJ Crane Lake Camp, I am grateful to those who came before me, those who created the community who welcomed the 15 year old me. I am grateful to those who actualized the transition of Crane Lake to a URJ camp, allowing my family to have a Jewish camp experience in a place that means so much to me. I am grateful for the additional connection I have with my children because of our mutual camp experiences. I am grateful that they see and value that connection. I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to work in a place that I love and with people who are committed to the future of the Jewish community.
Happy Chai Anniversary URJ Crane Lake Camp!
By Cory Hermann, Machon Director